Fake home contractors steal from elderly women in 3 different cases

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Fake home contractors steal from elderly women in 3 different cases

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (March 7, 2016) – Three times in the last two weeks, con men pretending to be home contractors have ripped off elderly women in Indianapolis.

All three victims were in the 70s and the suspects worked as a team to pull off the con.

“It makes you mad,” said victim Ruby Losh.

Ruby says in her case, the suspects inquired about laying down new gravel in her driveway.

“One of the men said ‘I’ll come in and we’ll write out a contact,’” said Losh. “He said, ‘Let’s go in the kitchen and you sit there and I’ll sit here.’ I guess he didn`t want me to see what they was doing.”

In Ruby’s case, one of the con men sat down with her at her kitchen table and made small talk.

That diversion gave the other suspects time work in the background, looking through her belongings and eventually stealing some cash.

“Oh yeah, they had a good 25-minute conversation with me while this went on,” said Losh.

Over the last two weeks, IMPD also took two other reports where con men pretended to be roofing contractors selling warranties.

In both cases, the suspects talked their way into the home and then stole the victims’ purses.

“I’ve been really nervous, so we need to catch these guys one way or another,” said Losh.

Experts say there are easy ways to keep yourself from falling victim.

Always ask contractors for ID’s and business cards, check to see if the workmen are driving a company truck, remember that legitimate companies rarely show up unsolicited and always be cautious who you let into your home.

Ruby just hopes others learn from her mistakes.

“They’re slick and they’re too lazy to get a good job, so they need to quit stealing from older people,” said Losh.

IMPD can’t say for sure if the three cases involved the same suspects, but they are very similar in nature.

Anyone with information on the cases is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.